WINNIPEG -- A third person in Manitoba has died from COVID-19, the province has confirmed.
Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, made the announcement Tuesday afternoon during the daily COVID-19 update.
Roussin said the man who died was his 60s from Winnipeg, and had underlying health conditions.The man was in intensive care.
“I extend my condolences to the family and friends,” Roussine said.
A total of 13 new cases were announced, bringing the province’s total to 217.
Roussin said 12 people have been hospitalized, with six people in intensive care.
The province said 21 people have recovered from COVID-19.
A total of 781 tests were completed at Cadham Provincial Laboratory on Tuesday, bringing the total number of tests complete in Manitoba to 14,280.
Roussin again reiterated his message for Manitobans to cancel non-essential travel, avoid family gatherings and follow all public health orders.
“This is an important time,” he said. “We are in a pandemic, and these measures are here to save lives of Manitobans, and we are asking all Manitobans to do their part, and it’s a big part."
Roussin said all of Manitobans can make a difference to save lives, to flatten to curve and to interrupt the transmission of the virus.
On Monday, the province hinted that new penalties could be coming for people who don’t adhere to physical distancing guidelines.
Premier Brian Pallister also called on the federal government to act as an intermediary and borrow funds on behalf of provincial governments and then loan the funds to them.
ISOLATION UNITS OPEN IN WINNIPEG
Lanette Siragusa, chief nursing officer with Shared Health, said the first isolation units for COVID-19 patients have opened up at several Winnipeg hospitals.
The units opened at Grace Hospital, the Health Sciences Centre and St. Boniface Hospital. The units are for patients who have tested positive for the virus, but do not require intensive care.
“It will still be very much the same kind of service, same quality, it will be by appointment,” Siragusa said. “That will allow the assessment clinics, the former ones like Winnipeg West, to just focus on the day-to-day, getting people through with primary care, and the episodic issues that they need to deal with.”
Siragusa said staff and doctors working in the unit have appropriate personal protective equipment and are following strict protocol to prevent and control infection as they put on and remove their equipment.
In addition, assessment clinics for COVID-19 positive patients are being established, which will offer primary care services for those who have tested positive for COVID-19 or have respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat or shortness of breath.
The province says the first site will open Wednesday at the St. James Assiniboia Centennial Pool and Fitness Centre (644 Parkdale St) at 9 a.m.
Access Winnipeg West will focus on primary care and community health services, the province said and will no longer be a community testing site.
The province said these clinics do not accept walk-in services.
